In addition to a mayor and city council, Box Elder also employs a public works director, a finance director and a planning and zoning coordinator.

Black Hills Knowledge Network photo/Chelsea Gortmaker

Box Elder - Government & Citizenship

The City of Box Elder, South Dakota covers an area of 13 square miles and joins Ellsworth Air Force Base to the north. With a population of 9,348 in 2016, Box Elder is governed by a six-member city council. City Council Members serve two-year terms. The city also elects a mayor, who serves full-time for a three-year term. The Box Elder city government also employs a public works director, a finance director and a planning and zoning coordinator.

The Box Elder City Council meets at 7:00 pm twice a month in the Box Elder Municipal Building. To see agendas and minutes of council meetings, visit Box Elder’s city website.

Elections

Find Pennington County Election Information here and see results from recent elections at the South Dakota Secretary of State’s website.

Public Safety

Fire suppression in the Box Elder area is provided by the Box Elder Volunteer Fire Department, along with other emergency services as needed or requested. Law Enforcement in Box Elder is provided by the Box Elder Police Department, which employs 12 officers and hopes to reduce crime and improve the quality of life for Box Elder residents.

Veterans & Military Affairs

More Information Box Elder faced growing criticism in 2013 after an independent audit of city finances turned up financial and bookkeeping problems dating back several years. The audit found the city is operating with nearly a $500,000 deficit in its general fund deficit. The audit reported that city employees had mingled city funds and violated state law by not filing annual financial reviews with the state between 2008 and 2012. Read more about this in the Rapid City Journal.